Marsh helleborine
Epipactis palustris
Family: Orchidaceae
Fire effect on plant
Marsh helleborines may survive low-severity fires outside the growing season as rhizomes.
Key traits
The marsh helleborine multiplies both by vegetative propagation and sexual reproduction. Vegetative propagation involves the production of regularly branched rhizomes underground (Jacquemyn et al. 2014). It requires high light availability, and is found mainly in full sunlight and rarely under shade.
High quantities of seed are dispersed by the wind, achieving considerable dispersal distances (10–500m; Lososová et al. 2023). Orchid seeds can persist in the seedbank for many years (5-10 years).
Plant response to fire
The marsh helleborine shows increased abundance after fire (Jacquemyn et al. 2014; Kluza-Wieloch and Maciejewska-Rutkowska 2015; Wójcik et al. 2022). It is not clear from the literature that post-fire regeneration is via resprouting from belowground structures and/or from the soil-stored seedbank.
Disturbance, like fire such as grazing or trampling, preserves an open canopy are is important for the maintenance of suitable habitat and the persistence of marsh helleborine populations (Jacquemyn et al. 2014). However, fire during the growing season would likely negatively impact marsh helleborine populations, as in other seasonally-dormant Orchids (Quarmby 1999).
Timing of life history
Perennial species. Seeds can be produced from 2-6 years depending upon the site productivity. Flowering June to August.
Conservation status
None.
References
Kluza-Wieloch, M., Maciejewska-Rutkowska, I. 2015 Population of Epipactis palustris (L.) Crantz (orchidaceae) in south-western part of Poznań. Steciana 19: 231-238. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Lososová, Z., Axmanová, I., Chytrý, M., Midolo, G., Abdulhak, S., Karger, D.N., Renaud, J., Van Es, J., Vittoz, P. and Thuiller, W. 2023. Seed dispersal distance classes and dispersal modes for the European flora. Global Ecology and Biogeography 32: 1485–1494 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Jacquemyn, H., Brys, R. and Hutchings, M.J. 2014. Biological Flora of the British Isles: Epipactis palustris. Journal of Ecology 102: 1341-1355.[Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Quarmby, J.P. 1999. Recovery plan for twelve threatened orchids in the Lofty Block region of South Australia 2010.South Australia: Department of Environment and Natural Resources. [Expert opinion; grey literature]
Wójcik, T., Kostrakiewicz-Gierałt, K., Makuch-Pietraś, I. 2022. The effect of accidental burning on habitat conditions and species composition of Molinia caeruleae meadows. Journal for Nature Conservation 70: 126294 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]